December 6, 2011 • Page 9 Avoid succumbing to cold and flu season Winter’s arrival coincides with the arrival of other things as well. The holiday season. Snow days from school. Weekends spent skiing and snowboarding with family and friends. While each of those things is something to look forward to, one thing also synonymous with winter is never welcoed with open arms. Cold and flu season impacts nearly every household each winter, forcing kids and adults alike to put life on hold as they rest and recover. To many people, flu shots are enough to keep them going strong through cold and flu season, but not everyone has access to flu shots. Even those who do might still get colds if they don’t take steps to stay healthy when the mercury drops. This winter, people wanting to avoid the worst of cold and flu season can take several precautions to reduce their risks of getting a cold or the flu. Around the House People can take several steps to make their homes safer and warmer, which should help them reduce their risk of cold and flu. Winterizing a home is perhaps the best thing a homeowner can do to make a home safer and warmer. Install storm windows and caulk around doors and windows to keep warm air in the home and prevent cold air from coming in. If winter has yet to arrive, inspect the heating system. If winter has already arrived, schedule an inspection as soon as possible. Make sure the system is working properly and is clean and ready for the winter that lies ahead. Ideally, the heating system should be serviced by a professional to ensure the ventilation is working properly. Homeowners with functioning fireplaces in their homes should have the fireplace inspected and cleaned before using it for the first time. Addressing Attire Winter weather should never catch adults or children off guard with regards to their wardrobe. Once cold weather arrives, dress appropriately whenever leaving the home to reduce the risk of cold and flu. Appropriate attire includes wearing outdoor clothing, such as winter coats, scarves, gloves or mittens, and wool ski hats. Those who live in areas with heavy snowfall should also wear waterproof boots whenever going outside. It’s also important to dress in layers throughout the winter. Doing so provides extra insulation, and layers trap air effectively, ensuring that all that warm air produced by your body won’t escape but will stick around and keep you warm. Prepare for Emergencies If a winter weather emergency arrives, cold and flu won’t shut down and stop working just because schools close or power outages occur. In fact, during an emergency the chances are strong that families will be stuck inside for extended periods of time. When locked indoors for long periods of time, cold and flu viruses can spread easily. Men and women should prepare for such a scenario by having an air filter on hand to ensure air quality remains clean and healthy. In addition, stock up on items such as soup or cold and cough medicine to ensure that anyone who succumbs to cold and flu during a weather emergency will have remedies at their disposal should they be confined to the home. Parents of infant children should keep extra formula and diapers on hand and be sure there are extra batteries around the house should the power go out. For infants on medication, consult the child’s physician before cold and flu season and devise a plan of caring for a sick child should a weather emergency occur. SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF YANKTON FOR OVER 85 YEARS Continuing the Caring Tradition of a Full Service Pharmacy • We accept all Medicare D plans & most insurance programs • Charging, Delivery, & Drive-Up Conveniences • Give Pharmacists Dan or Michael a call! Your Local Good Neighbor Pharmacy 109 W. 3rd St. Historic Downtown Yankton 605-665-7865 Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-6pm Sat 8:30am-5pm SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF YANKTON FOR OVER 85 YEARS COUPON $100 • SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF YANKTON FOR OVER 85 YEARS • • SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF YANKTON FOR OVER 85 YEARS • shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com $100 $100 OFF Any Complete Eye Glass Purchase Use Your Flex Plan! Sales & vision plans excluded. See store for details. Offer expires 12/31/2011 We Are Now Offering Wellmark® Blue Cross Blue Shield $100 Optical Expressions Yankton Mall 665.6181 OUTPATIENT Region’s Only Open MRI IMAGING CO-PAYS!* CT Scan • Ultrasound *Insurance Co-Pay plans vary. Please contact our Business Manager for assistance verifying your co-pay benefits. Terry Steichen (605) 665-5100. Nuclear Medicine • General X-ray Ask Your Physician About Us Today! Get Outside and Exercise Staying indoors all winter might seem like a great way to avoid cold and flu, but it might actually make adults and children more susceptible. Staying indoors could be trapping you indoors with stagnant air where cold and flu germs are floating around. Stay inside during weather emergencies, but be sure to get outside in the fresh air and exercise when the weather allows. Regularly working out boosts the body’s immune system, which helps ward off cold and flu. LEWIS & CLARK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES “Making a Difference in People’s Lives” Individual & Family Counseling • Psychiatric Evaluations Consultation Services • Medication Management Children’s Services • Vocational Services Education & Prevention Services • Geriatric Mental Health Services • Adult & Adolescent Substance Use Evaluation & Treatment HOURS: 8 A.M. - 5 P M-W-F, 8 A.M. - 8 P TUES & THURS .M. .M. EMERGENCY SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK 1028 Walnut, Yankton, SD Telephone 605-665-4606 Physician Owned 2601 Fox Run Parkway, Yankton, SD • lewisandclarkspecialty.com Phone (605) 665-5100 • Toll Free (866) 556-3822 Complete Care of the Head & Neck Region • Chronic Sinus Problems & Endoscopic Sinus Surgery • Chronic Ear Infections & Ventillation Tubes • Head & Neck Cancer • Tonsillectomies • Hearing Difficulties • Ear Pain • Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment • Balloon Sinuplasty • Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation & Counseling • Balance Disorder Let us work with you on... • Pre-Pointe Assessment and Readiness • Foot and Ankle Injury Treatment and Prevention • Hip Pain Treatment • Analysis and Improvement of Turn-out and Extension Ruth Scott, PT/Owner • Balance Training • Screening for Dance Teams and Individual Studios • Instruction on Stretching to Improve Splits Turn-out, and Pointe We’re H“ear” ForYou! EAR, NOSE & THROAT ASSOCIATES, P .C. David J. Abbott, M.D. • Catherine A. Wright, M.D., Beth J. Beeman, Au.D, CCC-A • Todd A. Farnham, Au.D, CCC-A 605-665-0062 toll free 866-665-0062 409 Summit Street, Ste. 3200, Yankton SD 57078 Check out our new website: www.entyankton.com 1407 East Cherry Street, Vermillion SD 57069 • (605)624-7246 101 East Cedar, Beresford, SD 57004 • (605)763-8037 801 Summit, Yankton, SD 57078 • (605)665-3861